By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
What a decade it’s been for Webb City softball.
The Cardinals have posted seven 20-win seasons in the last 10 years along with seven district championships, two third-place finishes in Class 4 and they twice finished as the Class 4 runner up.
Things were no different last fall, with Webb City compiling a 27-6 record and winning 13-straight at one point before falling 5-4 in extra innings to Webster Groves in the state championship game.
“Everyone started out with a lot of adversity, trying to get through all the requirements and just try to have a season and once the season got going and things started clicking, I almost think everything that went on and was asked of them brought them together even more as a team,” head coach Shauna Friend said. “They just really came together and were playing hard for each other. They were very successful.”
A year later, the Cardinals return as many as seven starters but must replace players like Haidyn Berry, a first team All-State pitcher and Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year who went 25-6 last fall with just 27 walks and 234 strikeouts in 194 innings pitched while posting a 2.24 ERA. She was also one of the team’s top offensive performers with 48 hits and 49 RBI’s in 33 games, including a school-record 18 home runs. She was a .444 hitter and signed with the University of Central Missouri to play in college.
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“Both offensively and in the circle she pretty much dominated and not only that but she was a huge part of the leadership of the team so that’s definitely going to be missed,” Friend said. “We’re going to have to have some players step into that leadership role. Offensively she had 18 home runs so that’s going to be another spot to fill as far as picking up the offense but I certainly believe we have the players to do that.”
Alyssa Jennings (Crowder College) and Bri Batson (Neosho County Community College) also signed to play at the next level. Jennings was a .368 hitter who hit nine home runs and scored 28 runs to go along with a .952 fielding percentage. Batson batted .250 with seven extra-base hits and an .882 fielding percentage.
The Cardinals do return a pair of first team All-State players in shortstop Peyton Hawkins and outfielder Emma Welch. Both are seniors. Hawkins, who will be a third-year starter and was a first team COC pick, batted .429 with 13 extra-base hits and 44 runs scored and Welch, also a first teamer in the COC, was a .417 hitter with 31 runs driven in and 31 runs scored.
“Those two batted one and two for us last year so offensively it’s going to be good to have them back,” Friend said.
Senior Kaylin Gilbert returns at catcher after hitting .330 last year with 10 extra-base hits. Seniors Hannah Wells, Ripley Shanks and Maggie Crossley all have good experience and will help fill out the outfield. Wells was a .398 hitter who totaled 33 hits in 29 games, Shanks batted .429 in 21 at bats and Crossley went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs.
Senior Emalee Lamar returns as a corner infielder after earning second team All-Conference honors; she was a .392 hitter with 12 extra-base hits in 102 at bats. Senior Lauren Hicks also returns after missing last season due to injury; Friend said she’s a power hitter. And sophomore Dawsyn Decker hit a three-run homer in her only at bat last year.
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While it remains to be seen who plays positions like third base, Friend is confident Webb City will once again boast a solid defense.
“I don’t feel like our defensive play is going to be at all at a different level from last year,” she said.
It’ll be tough to fill Berry’s shoes in the circle, but the Cardinals return a sophomore who saw time last year. Lydia Lortz pitched 13.2 innings and was 1-0 with three earned runs allowed.
“We’ve got Lydia Lortz coming back as a sophomore and she pitched a couple varsity games for us last season in some tournaments to give Haidyn some relief,” Friend said. “She’s got a little bit of extra experience at the varsity level.”
An incoming freshman, Laney Taylor, could also help out on the pitching staff.
“I just think overall experience is going to be a benefit for us because we are going to be senior heavy and most of them all have quite a bit of varsity experience,” Friend said. “I think that’s going to be a big advantage for us.”
Webb City opens Aug. 30 against Nevada. The team will play in three tournaments, including the Springfield Invitational Oct. 1-2 for the first time. The Cardinals will travel to Monett Aug. 20 for its jamboree.
